An inspired ‘SSH Cricket Team’ continued its victorious run of five consecutive matches as they clinched the finals against the hot favorites ‘Trinity Cricket Club’ on 23rd December 2011 in the second edition of Centurion Park Challenge Cup 2011 held at Sulaibhikhat Cricket ground. Chasing 134 for a maiden tournament win, SSH held their nerves as they rode on Gautam’s unbeaten 51 and supported by Rashid (17 runs) and Fahad (12 not out) to overhaul the target with 9 balls to spare.

For SSH, 2011 is their debut season in the cricketing tournaments in Kuwait and coincides with their 50th year of establishment; fittingly the glittering trophy is the icing on the cake for the design consultancy firm celebrating its jubilee year.

On a breezy winter morning with mercury dipping below 10°C, Trinity having won the toss elected to bat. A decision that didn’t help them much as SSH bowlers kept things straight and tidy, and by the end of the mandatory field restriction (6 overs) Trinity had lost 2 wickets for 42 runs on board. The next five overs saw them losing three more wickets (68 for 5 in 11 overs), as SSH bowlers and fielders kept on applying pressure. In the end, Trinity did well to reach the challenging score of 133 runs before being all out in the last over of their innings.

Irshad top-scored for Trinity with 29 valuable runs and their stylish opener Gabriel (Gaby) contributed a hard-hitting 23. For SSH, Dilip was the pick of the bowlers scalping 3 wickets with his gentle spin. Fahad tormented the batsmen with his pace bowling (2 for 15 runs) with Faisal supporting him well (2 for 22 runs), while Rashid picked up the other wicket.Fielding was a definite highlight for SSH as they splendidly held on to whatever catches came their way and also effected 2 run outs.

SSH began their chase cautiously, and matched the Trinity run-worm until the 6th over with scoreboard reading 40 for 1 wicket; which quite dramatically became 47 for 3 wickets in the very next over. At the half-way mark when SSH looked comfortably placed at 72 runs for the loss of 4 wickets, the game once again had its roller-coaster moment as the next 3 overs saw SSH losing couple of wickets more (95 for 6 wickets in 13 overs). With Gautam looking solid at one end, Fahad joined him at the crease with SSH needing 39 runs in 42 balls with 4 wickets to spare. Trinity sniffed their chances to cause an upset, but couldn’t get better of the SSH batsmen as Gautam and Fahad together stitched an unbeaten partnership to win the game and the tournament for their team in the 19th over.

Gautam was adjudged the ‘Man of the Match’ for his winning knock, while SSH captain Rashid won the ‘Man of the Tournament’ trophy for the all-round performance (230 runs and 10 wickets).

Members of the Centurion Cricket Club handed over the Runners-up Trophy to the Captain of the Trinity Cricket Club along with the player’s medallion. Amid loud applause SSH Captain received the Championship Trophy from the organizers, and the players were indeed proud at receiving their individual medals.

With the prize distribution, the curtains came down on yet another successful edition of Centurion Park Challenge Cup that was organized by the Centurion Cricket Club, whereby 10 teams were invited to participate in the tournament. The teams that participated in the tournament were SSH, Centurions, Trinity, Landmark, Patriots, Dynamites, Kuwait Prince XI, Dahod XI, Phoenix & Kuwait Energy Company (KEC). The format of the tournament included a league phase whereby the 10 teams were divided in to two groups of 5 each. Each team played every team in their group once. The league phase was followed by an interesting Indian Premier League (IPL) style play off stage which ensured that the two teams which met in the Finals were the best two that played in this tournament. The tournament was played over 12 weeks, spanning 24 games, including the exciting finale between SSH and Trinity.